The short version
Around Scarborough, queens start nests in May, and colonies peak in late summer. Small, low paper wasp nests can be handled at dusk. Leave wall, ground and high nests to a pro.
- Treat nests at dusk, when wasps are home.
- Never seal a hole wasps are using.
- Ground and wall nests are best left to a pro.
- Knock down small nests early in spring.
- Call 911 for breathing trouble after a sting.
Anyone in Scarborough dealing with wasps, hornets or yellowjackets at home.
What to look for
Wasps defend the area around their nest. Near a door or deck, stings will happen. Late-summer colonies are big and quick to sting.
- 1Dead wasps collecting on interior windowsills in late summer.
- 2Wasps entering an attic vent, dryer vent or weep hole.
- 3Large wasps circling porch lights after dark.
- 4Sudden wasp interest in overripe fruit under a tree.
- 5Wasps appearing indoors near light fixtures or windows.
- 6Small golf-ball-sized paper nests under eaves in spring.
Why it’s worth acting soon
- Nests grow all summer.
- Ground nests get disturbed by mowing.
- Wall nests can chew through into rooms.
- Stings are dangerous for anyone allergic.
Treatment options and typical costs
Inspection and Nest Identification
$75–$200
Watching flight lines at midday usually reveals the entrance. For Scarborough homes, that step separates a quick aerial nest job from a wall-void problem that needs dust and a return visit.
- Time
- 45–75 minutes
- Best for
- Every job; species and nest location decide the method
Sealing Up After the Nest Is Dead
$150–$450
Ask the Scarborough pro to wait at least a few days after a dust treatment before closing anything. Sealing too early is how most void jobs go wrong.
- Time
- 1–2 hours
- Best for
- Closing soffits, vents and gaps once a void nest is dead
Aerial Nest Treatment and Removal
$100–$400
Colonies die off each autumn in Scarborough, so an empty nest found in winter is harmless and can simply be knocked down. Active nests in summer are a different matter.
- Time
- 30–90 minutes
- Best for
- Exposed paper wasp, hornet and bald-faced hornet nests
Ground and Wall-Void Nest Treatment
$150–$500
Never seal a live void nest. Plugging the hole too early can drive wasps into the house.
- Time
- 30–60 minutes plus a return visit
- Best for
- Yellowjackets in lawns, retaining walls, soffits and wall voids
Prices are typical published ranges. Ask what’s included before you compare quotes.
In cold-winter areas, old nests are empty by now. It's a good time to fix vent covers and siding gaps before queens go looking in spring.Which wasps live around Scarborough.
Bald-faced hornets build big gray nests in trees and eaves. European hornets live in Maine too. They're large, fly at night, and nest in hollow trees. Mud daubers build tube-shaped mud nests. They rarely sting. Paper wasps are the most common around Scarborough. They build open, umbrella-shaped combs under eaves and railings. Eastern yellowjackets nest in the ground and in wall voids. They cause most stings.
Local wasps conditions in Scarborough.
An inspection in Scarborough usually starts outside and works inward, checking the foundation, gaps around doors and windows, and any moisture or clutter near the structure first. Knowing Scarborough's seasonal timing lets you schedule treatment before the busy stretch rather than after it, which usually means faster service and a more accurate quote. A provider who works Scarborough and Maine every day can point out the specific conditions that matter most here, and getting the scope, price, and follow-up terms in writing makes it easier to compare options. Scarborough sits in a humid continental climate, and that sets the pace for wasp activity here: mid-summer through fall (July-October). For Scarborough homes, the area is mostly suburban, so wasps pressure can differ from one block to the next depending on how tight the entry points are and how much food, water, or shelter is close by.
Yellowjackets sometimes nest in attics and wall voids, getting in through a torn vent screen or a gap in the soffit. Buzzing in a ceiling is worth a look.When they’re most active.
Nests die back after the first hard freeze in fall. Early spring is the easiest time to remove small starts.
Where they nest around houses here.
Watch for traffic in and out of gaps. A ground nest looks like wasps streaming from one hole. Homes from Scarborough out to Portland and South Portland share the same favorite nest spots. Plenty of homes in Scarborough have basements, but most nests are higher up. Check eaves, attic vents and window frames.
A year of wasps in Scarborough.
- Summer: highs near 78°F in Scarborough help colonies grow fast. - Late summer: peak season. Workers hunt sweets near people. - Winter: lows near 14°F in Scarborough. Nests die; only queens survive. - Spring: queens start new nests around May. Knock down small starts.
Wasp, hornet or bee?
- Yellowjacket: bright yellow and black, nests in the ground. - Hornet: larger, with a big closed paper nest. - Mud dauber: thin waist, mud tube nests. Rarely stings. - Honey bee: fuzzy and golden. about relocation. - Paper wasp: slim, long legs, open comb.
If you get stung.
An antihistamine can ease itching and swelling. 911 for trouble breathing or a swollen face or throat. If someone carries an epinephrine pen, use it. Move away from the nest first. Wash the sting and use a cold pack.
Keeping wasps away from the patio.
- Trash: keep lids tight and bins away from doors. - Fruit: pick up fallen fruit. - Spring checks: knock down small nests early. - Gaps: seal gaps after a nest is gone. - Food: cover plates and drinks outdoors.
Ground nests: what to do.
Don't mow over it. Don't pour gasoline or water in. Pros treat ground nests at night, when the colony is home. Mark the hole with a flag. Keep kids and pets away.
A nest, or just visitors?
Watch at dusk, when they fly home. Follow the line back to an eave, vent, shrub or hole. Wasps on flowers or trash cans may come from far away. A nest shows steady traffic to one spot.
Treating a small nest yourself, safely.
- Never if anyone in the house is allergic. - Wait until dusk, when wasps are home and slow. - Wear long sleeves, pants and gloves. - Use a jet wasp spray from several feet away. - Never spray from a ladder. - Leave it overnight, then bag the nest. - Only if it’s small, low and out in the open.
Wasps and pets.
your vet if the throat swells or breathing changes. Keep pet food and water bowls indoors in late summer. Dogs often snap at wasps and get stung on the face. Most stings just swell a little.
Kids and wasps.
Check play sets, slides and playhouses for nests each spring. Use cups with lids for sweet drinks outside. Teach kids to walk away calmly. Swatting makes a sting more likely.
After the nest is gone.
Check nearby eaves for new starts. Knock down small new nests early next spring. Wasps don't reuse old nests. Seal the gap a wall nest used once it's quiet.
Wasps at picnics and barbecues.
- Food: keep it covered until you eat. - Trash: bag scraps and close the bin. - Calm: don’t swat; slowly move away. - Kids: teach them to walk away calmly. - Drinks: use cups with lids or straws.
Ground nests in the lawn.
Watch for wasps flying in and out of the grass. Mark it, and keep mowers and kids away until it's treated. Yellowjackets often nest in old rodent holes.
Questions to ask before you sign.
- How will you treat a nest inside the wall? - Is removal of the dead nest included? - Is a return visit included? - What kind of wasp is it?
What affects the price
- Number of nests found on the property.
- Preventive spring treatment bundled with removal.
- Whether nest removal is included after treatment.
- An open comb or a nest inside a wall.
- Nest height, and whether it needs a lift.
- Sting allergy in the home requiring extra precautions.
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What's your biggest concern about wasps?
When to call for help
They'll find another way in. Don't seal a hole wasps are using. right away if anyone in the house is allergic. Call for nests in walls, attics, the ground, or anywhere high.
What you can do yourself
Big, high or hidden nests are a job for a pro. Knock it down the next day. Spray it at dusk with a wasp aerosol. A small, reachable paper wasp nest is a fair DIY job.
Wasps in Scarborough
With summer highs near 78°F in Scarborough, colonies grow fast and are biggest by August. Winter lows near 14°F in Scarborough end the season; only new queens survive, tucked into sheltered spots. In Scarborough's neighborhoods, eaves, decks, play sets and shrubs are favorite nest sites.
Local research
Wasps in Scarborough, ME: what the public record shows
Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which wasps actually live in Maine, when they are busiest around Scarborough, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.
Wasp species recorded in Maine
- Bald-faced hornet (Dolichovespula maculata) — Penn State: 'found in most of the 48 contiguous states and D.C., throughout Canada and in Alaska'; actually an aerial yellowjacket that builds the football-shaped gray paper nes…
- European hornet (Vespa crabro) — Penn State: 'first detected in the 1840s', 'well established in the eastern United States', 'first reported from Arkansas in 1999'; workers 'up to an inch (25 mm) long', nests '…
- European paper wasp (Polistes dominula) — Penn State: 'first reported in 1978 around Boston', now 'coast to coast ... although they are apparently less common in the Southeast and Great Plains'; nests in 'eaves of struc…
- Native paper wasps (Polistes spp. (e.g., P. fuscatus, P. apachus, P. exclamans)) — Open umbrella-shaped nests under eaves, porch ceilings and railings. UC IPM: paper wasp colonies 'vary between 15 to 200 individuals'; Penn State: queens 'establish nests in May…
When wasps are busiest around Scarborough
Queens emerge in April–May, colonies peak August–October, and workers die at the first hard frosts; only new queens overwinter (OSU, Penn State, UMN).
Bald-faced hornet range per Penn State covers most of the 48 contiguous states and D.C. European hornet is established across the eastern United States (Penn State).
Rules that apply in Maine
For context, nationally
- 788 — Deaths from hornet, wasp, and bee stings, 2011–2021 (US). CDC MMWR
- 72 deaths per year — Average annual sting deaths, 2011–2021 (US). CDC MMWR
Sources: CDC MMWR; Baldfaced Hornet; European Hornet; European Paper Wasp; Yellowjackets and Other Social Wasps (Pest Notes). Figures are quoted as the source prints them. How we check our sources
Simple ways to keep wasps away
- Keep compost covered and away from the house.
- Hang wasp traps at the yard edge, not the patio.
- Screen attic, gable and dryer vents with fine mesh.
- Cover drinks outdoors and use lidded cups for kids.
- Move hummingbird feeders away from doors and patios.
- Inspect grills, mailboxes and light fixtures before use.
Jot down where nests turned up this year. Queens often pick the same eaves and gaps, so you'll know where to look first next spring.Did you know?
Yellowjacket nests are never reused a second year
Some paper wasps can tell their nestmates apart by their faces
Questions people ask
Do wasp traps work?
They catch some yellowjackets, but rarely fix a nest problem. Place them away from where people sit.
Are wasps dangerous to my pets?
They can be. Dogs often get stung on the face. your vet if swelling spreads or breathing changes.
How long does wasp nest removal take?
Usually under an hour. Hidden nests may need a second visit a few days later.
How do I know if I have wasps, hornets or yellowjackets?
Paper wasps build open, umbrella-shaped combs. Yellowjackets nest in the ground or walls. Hornets build big, gray, closed nests.
Can I seal the hole wasps are using?
No. Sealing traps them inside. They may chew into your house. Treat first, then seal once activity stops.
How often should you check your property for wasp nests?
Every week or two from spring through late summer. For Scarborough homes, look under eaves, decks, sheds and play equipment, where small nests are easy to deal with.
What stops people from dealing with wasp nests?
For Scarborough homes, fear of stings, nests that are hard to reach, and not noticing them until they're big.
When is wasp season in Scarborough?
Around Scarborough, queens start nests in May, and colonies peak in late summer. Nests die back after the first hard freeze in fall.
Are hornets common in Scarborough?
Bald-faced hornets are, in trees and on eaves.
Nearby cities
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Sources (9)
The facts in this article come from the public sources listed above. Every home is different, so ask the company you talk to about pricing and what’s included. Published by Wasp Exterminator · Updated September 11, 2026 · How we write these guides